Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that extends Russia’s parallel import mechanism and other anti-sanctions measures through 2026. The legislation, published on December 15 on the official legal information portal, will take effect on January 1, 2026.
The law extends the parallel import mechanism—operational since May 2022—which permits the import of goods without requiring trademark owner approval. It also includes provisions for assessing product conformity, medicine circulation, and licensing procedures designed to counter international sanctions restrictions.
On December 9, the State Duma approved the law during its third reading. The document states that implementing these measures is part of Russia’s priority strategy to support economic development amid external prohibitions and restrictions.
Georgy Ostapkovich, Director of the HSE Center for Economic Studies, noted on June 2 that parallel imports into Russia have declined recently. He attributed this trend to consumers pausing purchases in anticipation of lower prices as the ruble strengthens and imported goods become more affordable.
